Red_Dragon wrote: 
That's the thing. The sailors (who are like you and me, well, kind of) have somehow managed to convince the rich boys to part with their dough to bankroll all their fun.
Clever.

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 
It's difficult for me to get excited about a sport accessible only to people who's annual income is more than I'll make in my lifetime. Sorry. 

 hobiejoe wrote: 
When exactly are they going to test that theory? Y'know, if not in some once-every-few-years world championship competition?

 hobiejoe wrote: 
Thanks to posters here for getting me interested in this.

There's a fellow here that makes brilliant sails for kayaks but I think for me they would just narrow the window between boring and sheer terror.  Paddles still rule.

 /teasing motor/windboaters 

40 kts?  ~ 7 in a following sea is enough to make me want to wear a wetsuit instead of a drysuit because wetsuits are easier to clean out.  I suppose hobies don't broach as easily, though.

 islander wrote: 
We?, We?
 
This is a competion for sailors, and, briefly, John Kostecki...and that means wind power, Cap'n Diesel.
 
Turns out that the 20kt windspeed limit that interrupted racing so often wasn't because of the fear of structural failure of the vessels, but the unproven behaviour of hydrofoils at boat speeds of more than 50kts, speeds these things were theoretically capable of. So 40+kts was the safe option. Yee, and indeed, Haa.
 

 
/teasing motorboaters

 hobiejoe wrote: 
At least I can go back to laughing at the Kiwis instead of calling them our cousins across the ditch.

 hobiejoe wrote: 
America's cup - it's a melting pot.  But we'll still keep the trophy over here .

Huge commiserations to the losing Kiwi team - so, so close.
 
But congratulations to the winning Kiwi (and Aussie, Brit and Larry's) team!
 
 

 
 

 islander wrote: 
Whoa, you are like the Oracle's oracle.

 islander wrote: 


I'd love to claim some brilliant insight, but I was mostly just talking trash. What a series though. 

PS:  the Oracle boat was built in New Zealand too..  just saying...

 MrsHobieJoe wrote: 
the Oracle team is powered by Russell Coutts, another kiwi. Basically we have two kiwi-led teams racing against each other. How they manage to convince these billionaires to front up the godswallop of dough they need to play in these toys is beyond me, but good on them. Beats buying the boat yourself.

 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote: 
will read it in a sec, I just don't know who to support- instinct is to support the Kiwis but Ben Ainslie is a huge star over here too.  I will just sit back and watch in awe I think.
ps it's a shame it probably won't be held in NZ next time that would have been awesome

The view from New Zealand.

ok perhaps not the majority view, but still.. the guy's right.

 islander wrote: 
I figured it was some accounting trick. Okay, Sudden Death! :idon'tcare:

Yesterday the winds today were forecast to be over maximum. I haven't checked the latest forecast, but there's a chance they may not get the final race off today. 

 MrsHobieJoe wrote: 
I think it is 1:30 PM pacific time today, winds permitting.
Edit: OOPs, 1:15 PM pacific. 

 islander wrote: 
when is the last race, is there a hoped for time.

Andy, we need some updates here! 

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 
The points are 8-8. Oracle started at -2, so after 10 wins they have 8. Emirates started at 0, so they had fewer wins needed to get to 9 points.